The shortest way to write geographic coordinates, based on common formats, is typically using Decimal Degrees (DDD.DDDDD° or +/-).
Geographic coordinates, which pinpoint locations on Earth using latitude and longitude, can be expressed in several standard formats. The concept of writing coordinates "short" often refers to the format that is most concise, requires the fewest components, and is easy for electronic systems to process.
Common Coordinate Formats
Different applications and systems use varying coordinate formats. The references provided highlight three primary methods:
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Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS): This is a traditional format widely used on maps. It breaks down each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds.
- Example: 32° 18' 23.1" N 122° 36' 52.5" W (from reference 1)
- Structure: DDD° MM' SS.S" followed by a direction (N/S/E/W).
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Degrees, Decimal Minutes (DDM): Popular in electronic navigation equipment, this format uses degrees and a decimal fraction of a minute.
- Example: 32° 18.385' N 122° 36.875' W (from reference 2)
- Structure: DDD° MM.MMM' followed by a direction (N/S/E/W).
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Decimal Degrees (DD): This is the most streamlined format, expressing degrees as a single number with a decimal fraction. Direction (North/East positive, South/West negative) is indicated by a plus or minus sign, or simply the sign implicitly.
- Example: 32.30642° N 122.61458° W (from reference 3)
- Even Shorter Numerical Example: +32.30642, -122.61458 (from reference 3)
- Structure: DDD.DDDDD° or simply +/-DDD.DDDDD, +/-DDD.DDDDD.
Comparing the Formats
When considering "shortness," we look at the number of components and overall length.
| Format | Structure | Components/Symbols Needed | Example (using reference data) | Relative Shortness | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees, Minutes, Seconds | DDD° MM' SS.S" N/W | Degrees, Minutes, Seconds, Symbols | 32° 18' 23.1" N 122° 36' 52.5" W | Longest | Maps, Surveying |
| Degrees, Decimal Minutes | DDD° MM.MMM' N/W | Degrees, Decimal Minutes, Symbols | 32° 18.385' N 122° 36.875' W | Shorter than DMS | Electronic Navigation |
| Decimal Degrees | DDD.DDDDD° or +/- | Degrees, Decimal Only, Sign | 32.30642° N 122.61458° W or +32.30642, -122.61458 | Shortest | Web Mapping, Databases, APIs |
As illustrated, the Decimal Degrees format is the most concise. It represents each coordinate (latitude and longitude) with a single numerical value, using the sign (+ or -) to indicate hemisphere rather than separate N/S/E/W letters. This simplicity makes it ideal for storage in databases, use in calculations, and exchange in data formats like JSON or CSV.
Therefore, to write coordinates "shortly," opt for the Decimal Degrees format.
